Starting-machine.



No. 728,539. PATEII'I'D MAY 19, 1.903.

J. F. CARR.

\ I y STARTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 3, 1902.

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UNITED STATES ratented Mayiajleos.

PATENT 01u-rice.

JOHN E. CARE, oF `srfLoUIs, MISSOURI.l

STARTING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 728,539, dated May V19, 1903.

Application tiled November 3, 1902. Serial No. 129,964. (No model.) Y

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN F. CARR, of the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Starting-Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof;

My invention relates to starting-machines and it consists of the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter shown, described, and claimed.

Figure 1 is a side view of my invention. Fig. 2 is a top view of same. Fig. 3 is an-end View of the portion carrying the wheel mechanism. Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line a: a: of Fig. 2.

My invention is especially adapted for use on race-courses and is also especially designed to line up the horses in front of the barrier, and While I have shown no barrier in connection with my invention various forms of recent barriers may be used in front of my invention for releasing the horses.4

` Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the outside fence of the race-track, and 2 the iuside fence. Located on the outside fence is a post 3,substantially embedded in the ground by any suitable means, and located on the inside of the inside fence 4is a similar post 4. Such posts are located around the course at the half, three-quarters, seven-eighths, dac., distances, depending, of course, on how the track is laid out. Y

Pivotally mounted upon the post 3 is a beam 5,which is adapted to extend across the track, said beam being trussed,` as shown, or of any desired construction to give the proper strength and rigidity. I

Formed transversely through the beam 5 is a series of openings or holes 6. Said beam 5 is also provided with a series of holes 7 ,through which the pins or bolts 8 are to be inserted. Located, in the-openings 6 in the beam 5 are a series of bars 9, which act as side barriers.

Said bars 9 are adjustable and removable in the beam 5 and are provided with holes 10, in which the pins 8 are inserted when said bars 9 occupy a xed or locked position in the beam 5. By means of the adjustable and removable bars 9 the depth of the stalls or barriers may be varied, and said bars 9 may be padded in any suitable and convenientmanner, so as .to protect the horses from being injured on the same. The beam 5 is also provided with a projection 11, formed with a hole through which a bolt 12 is inserted and fits in a socket 13, formed in the post 3, by means of which one end of the beam 5 is pivoted to said post 3. The other'end of the beam 5 is provided'with a similark projection and hole, by means of which and a pin 14 said end vmay be prevented from side movement on the post 4. The beam 5 is-also provided with a bifurcated standard ,15, between the bifurcations of which is a wheel 16, adapted torotate.

In operation the machine occupies the po- -sition as shown in Figs. l and .2, the horses being' .located between the bars 9, in which case `the beam 5 acts as the rear barrier and the bars 9 act as side barriers for the horses,

by which they can be readily lined up in front of any suitable front releasing-barrier.

When the machine is not in use, the bolt 14 is removed, and by means of the wheel 16 the machine can be rolled around vnext to the fence out of the way. `The, bars 9 may also be removed, and when it is desired to remove the machine to a diiferentstarting-point the pins 12 and 14 are both removed and the` beam 5 and the bars 9 carried to a new starting-point.

My machine is readily portable from different starting-points, and as it acts as a rear barrier and side barrier for the various horses it is a very convenient means for lining them up in front of any suitable starting-barrier.

I do not limit myself to the specific means shown for supporting thesaid beam during its movement, and it is evident that the Wheel 16 may therefore be supplanted by any known mechanical equivalent therefor.

Having fully described my invention, what I claimisl. The improved race-horse-starting 'machine,v comprising stationary posts, a beam adapted to rest on said posts; means for pivoting one end of the beam to one of said posts; means for fixing the other end'of y'said beam to the other post; a supporting device for that end of said beam; and a series of side barriers detachably carried by said beam, substantially as'specified.

2. A starting-machine, comprising stationary posts; a beam adapted to rest on said posts; means for pivoting one end of the beam to one of said posts; means for xing the other end of said beam to the other post; a supporting-wheel beneath that end of the beam; and a series of side barriers detaohably carried by said beam, substantially as specified.

3. In a starting-machine, a beam adapted 1o to be swung across the track; a wheel monnted on one end of said beam on which the same may be swung around; and a series of removable and adjustable side barriers, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN F. CARR. Witnesses:

ALFRED A. EIoKs, M. G. IRION. 

